Wheel and axle structure



' Jan. 12, 1932. w SANFORD 1,840,412

WHEEL AND AXLE STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 25, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 6 4k 4% BY M A TTORNEY Jan. 12, 1932. H. w. SANFORD 1,840,412

Jan. 12, 1932. H. w. SANFORD 1,840,412

IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY Jan. 12, 1932. H, w SANFORD 1,840,412

WHEEL AND AXLE STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 25, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I In ATTORNEY Patented. Jan. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFl CE HUGE W. SANFORD, OI KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE WHEEL AXLE STRUCTURE Application filed November 25, 1930. Serial No. 495,172. b

This invention relates to such wheel and axle structures as are embodied in mine cars and similar cars.

The object of the invention is to produce a structure wherein the parts are so 'arv ranged that the mine mechanic will not need to use judgment in order to get the finest adjustment of parts, namely, the pla between the balls and the racesthis eing 1 then the play of the wheel endwise on the axle. In other words, the object is to so organize the structure that the mine mechanic need only draw the binding bolts as tight as he can draw themwhereupon the interior adjustments of play are accurately arranged.-

In the accompanying I drawings,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, upright section along the axial line of the structure;

Fig. 2 is an upright transverse section on thtet line, 22, of Fig. 1, looking toward the le Fig. 3 is an upright transverse section on the line, 33, of Fig. 1, looking toward the right,

Fi 4 is an upright transverse section on the line, 44, of Fig. 1, looking toward the ri ht; Fig. 5 is an upright transversesection on 39 thehline, 55, of Fig. 1, looking toward the ri 1;; Fig. 6 is an upri ht transverse section on the line, 66, of F1g. 1 looking toward the ri ht;

Fig. 7 is an upright transverse section on thehline, 7- 7, of Fig. 1, looking toward the ri t;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line, 88, of Fig. 1, looking downward.

Referring to said drawings, A is the body of the axle. A1 is the journal. A2 is an annular collar integral with the axle between the body, A, and the journal. The outer or right hand end of the journal is threaded to receive -a ring-form nut, A3. The wheel, B, having a hub, B1, and an end wall, B2, surrounds the journal. In the form shown in the drawings, the wheel has 0 six spokes, B3. The alternate spokes have horizontal openings, B4, extending through the spokes approximately parallel to the journal, A1.

At the inner end of the hub (the end toward the body, A, of the axle) a ring-form end plate, B6, surrounds the collar, A2, rotatably. On the collar, A2, are grooves, A4, adapted to receive packing to prevent passa e of lubrication from the interior of the hu l) and to prevent the passage of dirt from the exterior of the hub. Through each spoke opening, B4, there is inserted a binding bolt, B7, the head of the bolt being at the outer or right hand face of the spoke and the opposlte end of the bolt being threaded into the ring-form end plate, B6. A locking plate, B8, surrounds the bolt be tween the adjacent face of the spoke and the head of the bolt and bears downward on the adjacent face of the hub to prevent turning of said plate on the bolt. When the bolt has been sufiiciently turned to. adjust the ring-form plate, B6, a suitable part ofthe plate, B8, is to be bent over one of the faces of the bolt head. The drawings show the outer part (the part the farther from the hub) so bent. I

In the form of the structure illustrated b these drawings, the function of these bin ing bolts, is to draw the ring form'end plate, B6, toward, but not against, the inner or ad- 'acent end of the hub. The function of said Its is to draw the end plate against an adjacent ball race, as will be described further Parallel to and spaced from the nut, A3, a circumferential channel, A5, is formed in the journal, A1, to receive the two halves of a split ring, A6.

A hub bushing, C, surrounds and is spaced from said s lit rmg and extends toward the end plate, 6. Opposite each half of the split ring, A6, a part of the bushing is bent downward to form a tongue, C1, directed toward the split ring to hold the two parts of the ring in the channel, A5, of the journal.

Between the nut, A3, and the split ring, A6, a ball race, C2, surrounds the journal and bears against said nut and said split ring. For adjustment, the nut is driven against the ball race, whereby the ball race 1s pressed out of the adjacent notch, A7.

tive to the ball race, C2, the nut, A3, forms an abutment for holding the hub against out- 5 ferential notches, A7, an one of which may receive one end of a locklng member, A8, the other end of said member'being held between the journal and the ball race, G2. When the nut, A3, is to be turned, the outer end of the locking member, A8, is to be bent upward Concentric to the ball race, C2, is a companion ball race, C3. Between those ball races are balls, 04. The ball race, G3, rests against a shoulder, A9, formed. on the interior of the hub; The outer end of the hub bushing, C,- normally bears against the ball race, 03, and presses said race against the hub shoulder, A9.

Near the axle collar, A2, the ball race, C5, surrounds the journal, A1. Concentric to and surrounding that race is a ball race, C6.

. Between those two races are balls, C7. The race, 06, bears against the adjacent end of the hub bushing, C, and the adjacent face of the ring-form end plate, B6, bears against the other face of said ball race, the end plate makin contact with that race and not with the adjacent end of the hub, space being left between said end plate and the end of the hub, as shown by the drawings. The binding bolts, B7, are to be set to forcibly maintain engagement of the end plate with the ball race, C6, whereby maintained binding engagement is made between the end plate and said ball race and the bushing and the ball race 03, and the hub shoulder, A9. Thus the ball race, C6, and the ball race, G3, are locked. We have alread noted that the ball race, C2, is held immova ly between the nut, A3, and-the split ring, A6. The ball race, C5, is not held against movement parallel to the length of the journal. That ball race is floating. I I

While the ring-form end plate, B6, performs a part in binding the ball races, 06 and C3, that end plate also serves as a closure for theend of the hub.

In addition to the function performed relaward movement on the axle; and in addition to its function relative to the ball race, C2, the split ring, A6, forms an abutment for holding the hub against inward movement on the axle, whereby the'hub' end wall is held away from the end of the axle, the ball races, C2 and C3, and the balls, 04, making needed engagement with the hub and the nut and the split ring. This additional functioning is i to be noted in connection with the claims.

port, B9, formed in the end wall, B2, of the hub, B, and normally closed by a screw plug, B10, of any desired form.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention provides for a wheel hub of maximum simplicity, cast as a unit and requiring a minimum amount of machine .work Without need of precise accuracy of machine work. It will also be observed that provision is made for retaining grease in the lower part of the hub to a height half-wa between the journal, A1, and the bottom 0 the hub, the leakage, in the limited desired quantity being between the lower part or" the annular collar, A2, and the adjacent part of the ringform plate, B6.

While this invention has been mentioned as applicable to wheel and axle structures such as are embodied in mine cars and similar cars, it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in wheel and axle structures to be used otherwise than in such cars.

I claim as my invention,

1. The combination with an axle, of a Wheel having a hub surrounding the axle and having a sealing wall extending across the end of the axle and the hub having in its interior and adjacent the end of the axle an abutment directed toward the inner end of the hub, abutment means adjustably secured on the outer end of the axle and directed toward the inner end of the hub,

tween said races, .a' pair of ball .races surrounding the axle within and adjacent the inner end of the hub, a hub bushing located between the two pairs of ball races and having one end bearing against the outer race of one pair and havlng its other end bearing against the outer race of the other pair, and means at the inner end of the hub for adjustably pressing against the outer race of the adjacent pair of races for pressing said race against the adjacent end of ,the hub bush.-

ing.

2. The combination with an axle, of a wheel having a hub surrounding the axle and having a sealing wall extending across the end of the axle and the hub having in its interior and adjacent the end of the axlc' an abutment directed toward the inner end of the hub, abutment means adjustably secured on the outer end of the axle and directed toward the inner end of the hub, a pair of ball races surrounding the axle, the inner of said ball races bearing against the axle abutment and the outer of said races bearing against said hub abutment, balls between said races, 2. pair of ball races surroundingthe axle within and adjacent the.

inner end of the hub, a hub bushing located between the two pairs of ball races and having one end bearing against the outer race of one pair and having its other end bearing against the outer race of the other pair, a ring-form end plate at the inner end of the hub, and means for adjustably pressing said plate against the outer race of the adj acent pair of-races for pressing said race against the adjacent end of the hub bushing.

3. The combination with an axle, of a wheel having a hub surrounding the axle and having a sealing wall extending across the end of the axle and the hub having in its interior and adjacent the end of the axle an abutment directed toward the inner end of the hub, abutment means adjustably secured on the outer end of the axle and directed toward the inner end of the hub, a pair of ball races surrounding the axle, the inner of said ball races bearing against the axle abutment and the outer of said races bearing against said hub abutment, balls between sa'id races, a pair of ball races surround the axle within and adjacent the inner end of the hub, a hub bushing located between the two pairs of ball races and having one end bearing against the outer race of one pair and having its other end bearing against the outer race of the other pair, a ring-form end plate at the inner end of the hub, and bolts for adjustably pressing said plate against the outer race of the adjacent pair of races for pressing said race against the adjacent end of the hub bushing.

4. The combination with an axle, of a wheel having a hub surrounding the axle and having a sealing wall extending across the end of the axle and the hub having in its interior and adjacent the end of the axle an abutment directed toward the inner end of the hub, abutment means adjustably secured on' the outer end of the axle, an end plate surrounding the axle near the inner end of the hub, a hub bushing, a pair of ball races the inner of said pair bearing against said axle abutment and the outer of said pair being in contact with said hub abutment and the adjacent end of the hub bushing, balls between said races, another pair of ball races surrounding the axle near the end of the hub and having its outer race between the hub bushing and said end plate and in contact with said members, means for pressing said plate against said outer race, and balls between said races.

5. The combination with an axle, of a wheel having a hub surrounding the axle and having a sealing wall extending across the end of the'axle and the hub having in its interior and adjacent the end of the axle an abutment directed toward the inner end of the hub, abutment means adjustably secured on the outer end of the axle, an end plate surrounding the axle near the inner end of the hub, a hub bushing, a pair of ball races the inner of said pair bearing against said axle abutment and the outer of said pair being in contact with said hub abutment and the adjacent end of the hub bushing, balls between said races, another pair of ball races surrounding the axle and having its outer race between the hub bushing and said end plate and in contact with said members, bolts for drawing said plate against said outer race, and balls between said races.

'6. The combination with an axle, of a wheel having a hub surrounding the axle and having a sealing wall. extending across the end of the axle and the hub having in its interior and adjacent the end of the axle an abutment directed toward the inner end of the hub, abutment means adjustably secured to the outer end of the axle, an end plate surrounding the axle near the inner end of the hub, a hub bushing, a. pair of ball races the inner of said pair bearing against said axle abutment and the outer of said pair being in contact with said hub abutment and .the adjacent end of the hub bushing. balls between said races, and another pair of ball races surrounding the axle near the inner end of the hub and having its outer race between the hub bushing and said end plate and in contact with said members, bolts extending through the wheel and threaded to said plate for drawing the plate against said outer race.

7. The combination with an axle,'of a wheel having a hub surrounding the axle and having a sealing wall extending across the end of the axle and the hub having in its interior and adjacent the end of the axle an abutment directed toward the inner end of the hub, an abutment nut threaded around the axle at its outer end, an end plate surrounding the axle near the inner end of the hub, a hub bushing, a pair of ball races the inner of said pair hearing against said axle abutment and the outer of said pair being in contact with said hub abutment and the adjacent end of the hub bushing, balls between said races, another pair of ball races surrounding the axle near the end of the hub and having its outer race between the hub bushing and said end plate and in contact with said members, means for pressing said plate against said outer race, and balls between said races.

8. The combination with an axle, of a wheel having a hub surrounding the axle and having a sealing wall extending across the end of the axle and the hub having in its interior and adjacent the end of the axle an abutment di-- rected toward the inner end of the hub, abutment means adjustably secured on the outer end of the axle, an end plate surrounding the axle near the inner end of the hub, a hub bushing, a pair of ball races, the inner of said pair bearing against said adjustable axle abutment, a stationary axle abutment in contact with the other side face of said inner race, balls between said races, another pair end of the hub and having its outer race between the hub bushing and said end plate and in contact with said members, meansfor pressing said plate against said outer race, and balls between said races.

9, The combination with an axle having a circumferential channel near its outer end, of a Wheel having a hub surrounding the axle and having in its interior and adjacent the end of the axle an abutment directed toward the inner end of the hub, abutment means adjustably secured on the outer end of the axle, a split ring seatedin said axle channel, and a hub bushing positioned to prevent movement of the parts of said split ring out of said channel.

10. The combination with an axle, of a wheel having a hub surrounding the axle and said hub having in its interior and adjacent the end of the axle an abutment directed toward the inner end of the hub, an end member at the inner end of the hub, a bolt extending through the wheel and engaging the wheel and said end member for drawingsaid end member toward the outer end of the axle, and an outer pair of ball races and a hub bushing and a pair of inner ball races located between said hub abutment and said end member, said several members being in engagement with .each other and so held by said end member. 3 11. The combination with an axle, of a wheel having spokes and a hub surrounding the axle and said hub having in its interior and adjacent the end of the axle an abutment directed toward the inner end of the hub, an end member at the inner end of the hub, a bolt extending through the wheel spokes and engaging the wheel and said end member for drawing said end member toward the outer end of the axle, andan outer pair of ball races and a hub bushing and a pair of inner ball races located between said hub abutment and said end member, said several members being in engagement with each other and so held by said end member.

12. The combination with an axle, of a wheel having a hub surrounding the axle, said hub having in its interior an abutment directed toward the interior end of the hub, an inner pair of ball races, an outer pair of ball races surrounding the axle near its outer end, abutment means fixed with respect to the outer end of the axle to limit the outward movement of the inner race of the outer pair of races parallel to the axle, a separating bushing surrounding the axle and lying between said outer pair of ball races and said inner pair of ball races and the ends of said bushing being in abutting relation with one race of each of said pairs, an end sealing means at the inner end of the hub in adjustable abutting relation with the outer race of said inner pair of races, and means for pressing said sealing means against said outer race of said inner pair of races.

13. The combination with an axle, of a wheel having a hub surrounding the axle, said hub having in its interior an abutment directed toward the interior end of the hub, an inner pair of ball races, an outer pair of ball races surrounding the axle near its outer end, abutment means fixed with respect of the outer end of the axle to limit outward movement of the inner race of the outer pair of races parallel to the axle, a separating bushing surrounding the axle and lying between said outer pair of ball races and the said inner pair of ball races and the ends of said bushing being in abutting relation with one race of each of said pairs, end sealing means at the inner end of the hub, and adj ustable means operating from the outside of the wheel hub for pressing one of said outer races of the said two hub abutment.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name, this 22nd day of November, in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirty.

HUGH w. SANFORD.

pairs of races against the said 

